STAFF and customers at Santander’s Swindon branch have spent this month gathering Christmas donations for Swindon Foodbank.

More than eight shopping baskets-worth of goods have been collected at the Regent Street unit, where a cardboard fireplace and tree have been put together by customer service adviser Antonio Falvo.

The 33-year-old and retired colleague Valarie Ingram wanted to pick out a charity in the town, as opposed to a “faceless” national organisation.

Antonio said: “I wanted to help people at Christmas time. We are working in a bank and we see a lot of people struggling.

“It sounds awful, but when you give money you don’t know where it goes, but with the foodbank you know it goes to someone directly in need.”

Customers making cash donations have had their money used to then buy food for the collection.

Once the collection is finished Antonio has arranged to make the food drop at Cavendish Square for the charity.

Santander staff have supported Text Santa, an ITV charity initiative, and Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day, but Antonio wanted to focus on something local.

“Santander helps lots of charities all over the country, but what I like about Swindon Foodbank is it’s our town. It’s nice helping our own town,” he said.

Antonio, who has worked with the bank for more than four years, wanted the collection to remind customers and staff there were people worse off than themselves this Christmas.